AST Recycling has launched an e-waste recycling bin at Jackal Creek golf estate, in what will be the first of many stations nationally, to help battle the rising tide of e-waste in South Africa. 

In an effort to help curb the rising tide of e-waste in South Africa, the AST Recycling bin will accept electronic technology items such as cellphones, laptops, general small electronics, tablets, audio, and video devices, and media players.

Items that will not be accepted include, other general waste items, as well as other electronic devices such as lightbulbs and batteries.

AST Recycling asserts that although consumers genrally want to recycle e-waste, they may not know where to go to dispose of this fast-growing waste stream.

The e-waste bin is custom designed to securely contain the waste until the bin is full, when the recycling company will send a truck to collect the contents. Rodney Peters, head of IT Asset Disposal Recycling, says that they are optimistic that this will be the first of many such installations around the country.

“There’s a huge gap in the market for recycling e-waste.”

Adding that people know and understand that it is important to recycle and properly dispose of potentially harmful electronic components, but finding a recycling point is nearly impossible.

“We are working on getting other estates involved, along with office parks and shopping centres.”